The Spawning of Pink Salmon in the Fraser River System Above
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THE SPAWNING OF PINK SALMON IN THE FRASER RIVER SYSTEM ABOVE HOPE - 1955 DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES, CA NADA VANCOUVER , B. C. JUNE 20, 1957 THE SPAWNING OF PINK SALMON IN THE FRASER RIVER SYSTEM ABOVE HOPE - 1955 Department of Fisheries, Canada Vancouver, B. C. June 20, 1957 BOSTON • BAR FIG. 1. LOCATION MAP THE SPAWNING SPAWNING OF PINK SALMON OF INPINK THETHE FRASER RIVER SYSTEM ABOVE HOPE - 1955 INTRODUCTION During 1955 the Department of Fisheries continued the studies of the pink salmon population in the Fraser River system above Hope. ( See site map figure 1). Historically, the reports of the Commissioner of Fisheries revealed that previous to 1913 large numbers of pink salmon spawned in the upper Fraser River system, particularly in the Thompson, Nicola and Seton Rivers. In 1913, large amounts of rock were dumped into the river immediately above Hell's Gate, which formed an almost impassable barrier to salmon migration. In the ensuing years, pink salmon were virtually absent from the spawning areas above this point. In 1941, 1943 and in 1945, pinks were captured at Hell's Gate incidentally to sockeye in tagging operations of the International Pacific Salmon Fisheries Commission. During 1945, the first fishway at Hell's Gate was completed, and in 1947, between 1000 and 2000 pink salmon were reported spawning in the Seton River. In 1949, they were again reported in the Seton-Cayoosh system and also a small number were recorded spawning in the Nicola River, tributary to the Thompson. In addition some evidence of spawning in the Thompson River itself was reported. The latter was considered of particular significance since reports prior to 1913 stated that "millions of pink salmon passed up the Thompson River every other year and spawned on its gravel beaches and in its tributaries 11 • - 2 - In 1953, a special pink salmon tagging program was carried out at Hell's Gate by the Department to determine the total population of this species which migrated above the canyon area and to locate and assess the numbers spawning in individual areas. In addition to the Seton-Cayoosh and the Nicola River systems, both of which supported increased runs of pink salmon over the cycle year, spawning ground tag recoveries were made in Deadman River, Bonaparte River, Portage Creek and Anderson Creek. These constituted the first spawning reports of this species in these streams for many years. The Thompson River itself was examined on foot at various points and small numbers of spawned out pinks were recovered near Deadman River, Spences Bridge, and Big Horn Lodge. No actual spawning was observed, primarily due to the character of the stream, the inaccessibility of certain areas and the somewhat opaque coloration of the water. These conditions made it extremely difficult to detect fish from the bank or from a boat. The population of pink salmon spawning above Hell's Gate in 1953 was estimated to be 244,000, of which over 50,000 were estimated to have spawned in the Seton River system. The rehabilitation in this system had proceeded at a rapid rate, the spawning population of pinks increasing from an estimated 1000 to 2000 in 1947 to over 50,000 three cycles later in 1953. Although a large increase in the size of spawning populations was evident in every known spawning stream, a large disparity still existed in the calculated estimate and the total number Figure 2 . Fish-wheel. - 3 - accountable on the various tributaries. It was strongly suspected that the Thompson River was being utilized to a very considerable extent by pink salmon. It was decided, therefore, to repeat the tagging program in 1955 and in addition to survey the Thompson River in order to evaluate the role of that river as a pink salmon producer. To increase the efficiency of the 1955 program two additional techniques were utilized. The first was the installa tion of a "Fish-Wheel" immediately above Hope to catch salmon for tagging ( See photograph figure 2). Use of the "wheel" reduced the amount of labor required and at the same time enabled the sampling to be carried out at a more constant effort. The second involved the use of a helicopter to operate in conjunction with the ground surveys. Previous experience had proved this machine to be ideally suited for conducting detailed examinations of spawning areas. During the spawning period a complete aerial survey of the pink salmon spawning grounds was carried out. Because of the large area involved and its inaccessibility, it ·would not have been possible to cover it as completely or as quickly by ordinary methods. The helicopter observer was able to locate and map all the spawning areas, and to pass the information on to the tag recovery crew. METHODS (a) Tagging - The fish-wheel was installed on the right bank of the - 4 - Fraser River approximately one mile upstream from Hope, near the C.P.R. station at Haig. In design, the wheel consists of two scoop-like nets or baskets made by stretching 3 1/2inch seine webbing over a framework of five J-shaped steel pipes, braced horizontally along the length, with a diagonal brace forming a framework for each side of the net. Each basket is ten feet.. deep by ten feet wide and is fastened oppositely to a bearing mounted shaft. At right angles to the nets, two additional frames carry paddles. This whole structure is mounted on two pairs of pontoons twenty-four feet long, which in turn are secured to shore by steel cables mounted on winches. The wheel is turned by the action of river current on either the paddles or baskets. In operation, the downstream basket schoops up migrating fish from behind and retains them within the net. As the basket rises above water level, the fish drop into a sloping trough attached to the basket, and then they slip gently into a live-box located between one pair of pontoons. The fish-wheel was assembled and put into operation on September 1, and tagging commenced on September 6, continu ing unti 1 October 13. Petersen type tags and colored baffles were applied to the pink salmon and the length, sex, and thair condition were recorded. The baffle color was changed weekly as an aid in determining timing by visual observation. At the beginning of the season the wheel operated daily from - 5 - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Later in the season, it was considered that the pink salmon run was not being adequately sampled and on September 23, fishing commenced on a 24 hour basis. (b) Tag Recovery - Arrangements were made to carry out two aerial recon naissances of the spawning streams by helicopter during the period pink salmon were spawning. The first survey, carried out from September 26 to 29, served primarily as a recon naissance flight over the Thompson and Nicola River systems in an effort to locate unknown spawning areas. The results from this survey enabled the tag recovery crew to conduct their program with both a minimum of time and effort. The second survey, conducted from October 15 to 17, was a more thorough and complete survey. In addition to examining the Thompson River system, the observer surveyed the Stein River, the Fraser River from Lytton to Bridge River rapids, the Seton River, Cayoosh Creek, Portage Creek, Bridge River, Yalakum River, Nahatlatch River, and the lower Fraser River in the vicinity of Hope. On both surveys the pink salmon spawning areas located were plotted on topographical maps. In addition, spring salmon spawning sites were noted and recorded. The aerial reconnaissances were carried out at an altitude of 200 feet and at a speed of approximately 20 miles per hour. Periodically, the machine was landed on the river Figure 3. B. C. Electric dam near outlet of Seton Lake. - 6 - banks or gravel bars in order to carry out a closer examina tion. It was found that the period of day most ideal for observing pink salmon was between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., the hours of maximum sunlight. The most outstanding feature of these surveys was the fact that this extensive river system was covered in approximately 16 hours flying time. A more complete ground coverage of the spawning areas was made in 1955 than in 1953. With the aid from aerial observation, a tag recovery crew of three was able to make regular visits to every major pink salmon spawning area in the system. The live pink salmon were enumerated and all the available dead pink salmon were counted and examined for tags. A counting device was also installed in the ,fishway of the B.C.E. dam at the outlet of Seton Lake (See photograph figure 3). .This device consisted of a picket section with a counting board installed in the stop-log slots at the upstream end of the fishway. All the salmon moving through the fishway during the period October 4 to October 31 were counted and the tagged salmon, distinguished by the various colored baffles, were recorded. It was not practical to count the salmon throughout a 24 hour period, therefore the movement of salmon through tho counting device was confined to the period of daylight. \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \ I 4. The daily catch of pink salmon at the fish-wheel site by both the 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. and 24 hour periods. Both curves are based on a 3-day moving average. 120 COMMERCIAL 100 FISH-WHEEL 50 . ( .. ..fl II .. 80 i. , I I j l j i ii •• I I • 0 • ' • I I I l '1 60 .